Voices of Self Funding

Episode #14 What are the Important Areas to Focus on in 2022 as Healthcare Moves Towards DPC

Dr. Makary, surgeon, public policy expert, and author of the book "Price we pay" talks passionately on this episode about how to bring disruption to the healthcare system. And how to go underneath the areas of focus to address the inappropriateness of care and the higher prices we pay for healthcare. What is ahead in 2022? How can you help shape the plans and programs to deliver value to your members? 

This episode was sponsored by MedWatch. For more information on these or other topics related to the self-funding industry, please visit HCAA.org. 

Podcast #13 How Mental Health Programs Can Help Employers and Employees

Post pandemic, mental health issues and substance abuse have reached a critical stage in our communities. Employers are asking, employee's families are experiencing a lot of challenges. Learn from Julie Meuller, an innovator in the self-funded space, who has put these mental health and substance abuse programs at her company and is helping 10s of other self-funded employers.

This episode was sponsored by Magellan Rx. For more information on mental health programs or other topics related to the self-funding industry, please visit HCAA.org. 

Podcast #12 Why and How to Educate Employees About Price Transparency

In this episode, Ramesh goes to a higher level with the author of Never Pay the First Bill, Marshall Allen, to talk about how employers can educate their members about healthcare prices and the upcoming price transparency. This conversation provides a unique perspective on actions employers can take to leverage price transparency.

This episode was sponsored by The Phia Group. For more information on price transparency or other topics related to the self-funding industry, please visit HCAA.org. 

Podcast #11 Finding the Cost Savings While Humanizing Care Navigation Programs

Care navigation programs are incredibly valuable in delivering a great experience for patients and significantly lower costs for employers. But why aren’t they the norm? Tune into this episode as our guest, Michelle Bounce, COO at J.P. Farley, a leading TPA, describes a life-changing personal encounter with our healthcare system, where she lost her child and faced the cold and impersonal healthcare system. And through this chilling experience, it has forever shaped and guided her desire to improve healthcare for all through an empathic care navigation model that treats the “human side of healthcare.” Michelle guides us through how TPAs can effectively turn care management on its head by simply “doing the right thing” and the cost savings follow suit.

This episode was sponsored by MedWatch. For more information on care navigation programs or other topics related to the self-funding industry, please visit HCAA.org. 

Episode #10 How to Win Leveraging TPA Offering

If you are trying to leverage innovation to deliver high impact to self-insured employers, this podcast is a must-listen for you! Ashok Subramaniam, CEO and co-founder of Centivo, a forward-thinking TPA, answers some of the important questions of major disruptions in the industry around price transparency, unbundling of provider networks, stronger relationships between brokers and TPAs, and the areas of focus to clarify your true value to employers. He frankly outlines where the puck is going to be in 3 years time – you don't want to be there.

This episode was sponsored by WLT Software. For more information on these or other topics related to the self-funding industry, please visit HCAA.org. 

Episode #9 Why Trust in Health Care Matters for Self-Insured Employers

Healthcare consumers don't trust our healthcare system. COVID-19 has brought this into sharp contrast. However, building trust is vital for effective care, reducing population risk, and driving down costs. Why should you care about building trust with employees and members on your self-insured employer plan? Listen to Kirti Mutakar, CEO of UnitedAg, a healthplan and TPA, on their approach to building trust with a difficult-to-reach employee population in the agri business, and the results this has delivered.

This episode was sponsored by AMPS. For more information on trust in healthcare or other topics related to the self-funding industry, please visit HCAA.org. 

Episode #8 Technologies to Improve Customer Service and Member Interactions

TPAs are increasingly facing a challenge around customer service, stuck doing tactical interactions with members, and seeing churn from their customer support team. Employers want more from their benefits and the support to their employees. Technology can help - but how? What is available? How are big health plans leveraging data and technology? Come and find out from Vijay Bhatt, Deputy CTO at Harvard Pilgrim, a health plan that has grown rapidly.

This episode was sponsored by Zipari. For more information on improving customer service or other topics related to the self-funding industry, please visit HCAA.org. 

Episode #7 What You Need to Do for Price Transparency Regulation

In this episode, Ramesh interviews Matthew Albright, Chief Legal Officer at Zelis, who has been involved in various healthcare regulatory issues, having worked at CMS. In this podcast episode, we will answer key questions such as what is the intent of price transparency regulation? What are the key requirements that TPAs and Employers need to worry about? What is the simplified version to worry about? And finally, what are the recommended steps to take?

This episode was sponsored by WEX. For more information on price transparency or other topics related to the self-funding industry, please visit HCAA.org.

 

 

Episode #6 Challenges TPAs Face

In this episode, Ramesh interviews Dallas Scrip, CEO of Benefit Management LLC from Wichita, KS, and Ashok Subramanian, CEO of Centivo, from Buffalo, NY. This episode dives into questions about the challenges TPAs face in competing against BUCA carriers, what investments TPAs need to make, and what the advantages TPAs have in their business model.

(Please Note: The episode was recorded before the Buffalo Bills game against Kansas Chiefs in the Superbowl.)

This episode was sponsored by Optum Rx. For more information on competing against the BUCAs or other topics related to the self-funding industry, please visit HCAA.org.

Episode #5 Surgery Networks & Their Cost Structure

In this episode, Ramesh interviews Dr. Keith Smith, founder of the Surgery Center of OK, one of the pioneering firms that have published their fixed prices down to the dollar for surgeries for more than 10 years. This podcast episode will touch on what a specialized surgery network means, what type of surgeries can be directly steered to specialized centers, what kind of savings to expect, and whether or not quality and cost are better at these specialized surgery centers.

This episode was sponsored by ECHO Health. For more information on surgery networks or other topics related to the self-funding industry, please visit HCAA.org.